ZIDANE’s best-ever performance for Les Bleus ?

This week-end I had a chat on twitter about this question and for me no doubt possible. ZIDANE’s best-ever performance with France is the 2006 World Cup quarter final versus Brasil. In the run-up to the Spain match, the Spanish press were practically discussing Zidane's career in the past tense. If that was some kind of ploy, it backfired badly. No doubt riled, the legendary playmaker sent Spain home with an excellent performance, and he was imperious from start to finish against the Brazilians. Right from the kick-off, a trademark spinning turn followed by a stepover set the tone for a 'Zizou' masterclass, and even Parreira joined the chorus of praise when he said: "He's one of the best players of the last ten years. He has great technique and, although he did not get behind us a lot, he set up the goal from a free-kick. He moves all the time and made life difficult for our players. He had a very fine match." Over the course of 90 minutes, Zidane not only found time for every trick in the book but proved he is still up to the physical challenge. Constructing moves and even speeding up the play, 'ZZ' turned in perhaps his best-ever performance for Les Bleus. "He was exceptional," said right-back Willy Sagnol. "He wants to give everything in his last games." The French may have been in inspired form, but there is no denying that the world champions never managed to raise their game. Not even brief late rally, when Robinho and Adriano entered the fray, could mask their glaring deficiencies. Most disappointingly, Ronaldinho was short of his delicious best, as he had been all tournament, and both Ronaldo and Kaka were kept quiet. The defence did what they could to cope with France's rampaging forwards, but ultimately the Auriverde were given a lesson by Zidane in their own supposed strengths of technique and creativity. After the game, king Pelé said : “Zidane is the master. Over the past 10 years, there’s been no-one like him, he has been the best player in the world.”